Date:
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Contact:
(520) Patrick Clarke, Special Structures Design Manager, (360) 485-2076 (cell)
(520) Frank Curry, Field Exploration Manager, (360) 481-3516 (cell)
(Viaduct) Mark Anderson, Assistant Project Engineer, (206) 382-5252
(Viaduct, 520) Dave Jenkins, (360) 709-5455
(Viaduct, 520) Jon Higgins, Communications, (206) 464-1184
SEATTLE - On the heels of the passage of 2005's landmark transportation funding, WSDOT's SR 520 Bridge and Alaskan Way Viaduct Project Teams are going to work under Lake Washington and SR 99. Starting tomorrow through June, crews will begin testing soil samples to support design engineering for both projects. SR 520 crews will be out on Lake Washington tomorrow. Viaduct crews start on Thursday.
SR 520
Crews will drill from a barge between 50-200 feet away from the bridge, starting on the north side going from east (near Medina) to west, and then on the south side of the bridge from west to east. There are 15 drilling locations to cover along the new 520 bridge's alignment and crews will spend roughly two days at each. Work hours will be Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and on every other weekend, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. as needed.
Viaduct
Crews have already finished soil testing in the south and central viaduct project area. Starting Thursday, crews will bore between 50 feet to 100 feet into the ground at six locations along SR 99 north of the Battery Street Tunnel, between Valley and Harrison streets. SR 99 traffic will not be affected by the drilling.
Crews will work two to three days at each location - all work will occur during regular business hours. Flaggers will be provided if needed, though in most cases, work will not affect street traffic.
The drilling is to allow engineering and environmental experts from both projects to classify soil properties and densities as they design the new structures, as well as to test for water content and environmental contamination.
The Washington State Legislature recently passed the Transportation Partnership bill, signed by Governor Gregoire, that earmarks $500 million for the SR 520 Bridge Replacement and HOV Project, and $2 billion toward Viaduct replacement. For more information, visit the WSDOT Web site.
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